Comments on: Social Media Marketing: Who’s Full of Hot Air? Who’s The Real Deal?

By: Michael E. Rubin, Blog Council

Michael E. Rubin, Blog Council — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 21:18:02 +0000

I admit I don’t have a pat answer here. Practitioner, perhaps.
It’s all about context and attitude. I gave a Social Media 101 presentation a few months ago to a client and I was introduced as a social media expert. I immediately stepped in and clarified that I was “experienced,” but I was certainly not an expert.
I wasn’t splitting hairs — they mean entirely different things. I will tell you, the attitude in the room swiftly changed. The senior executives went from skeptics checking their watch every five minutes to actively engaged participants eager to ask questions.
BL, I think you’re more on the right path when you talk about “track record.” But I’ve seen so much bashing and trashing lately over anyone with expertise, that I’m not entirely convinced that “experienced” is a good substitute, either. Usually the reaction has been, “Who do you think you are?” (with a cuss word and some vitriol thrown in for good measure).
Ultimately, it’s less about the word itself than the context surrounding it. I would never include myself in a list of experts, for instance, even though I have experience and expertise probably to warrant it. I prefer to take a humbler tack. I once saw a documentary about the Dalai Lama and he introduced himself as “a simple monk.” I’m not the Dalai Lama, of course, but that sense of humility always struck me as gently disarming and warmly affirming.

By: B.L Ochman

B.L Ochman — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 17:39:13 +0000

Michael – what word would you use instead in this instance?

By: Lewis Green

Lewis Green — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 21:43:35 +0000

Michael,
I’m with you.

By: Michael E. Rubin, Blog Council

Michael E. Rubin, Blog Council — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 21:03:39 +0000

Anyone else think that the word “expert” gets overused today like the word “visionary” got overused during the heyday of the first dot.com boom? Count me as one who does.

By: B.L Ochman

B.L Ochman — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 14:17:41 +0000

hi spike – i’m talking about using social media in the marketing mix, and you’re talking about ads. Crispin is great at advertising, not social media marketing.
It’s so terrific that the Fiskateers are still rolling along. It is a brilliant example of community building.

By: Spike Jones

Spike Jones — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 13:34:58 +0000

Thanks for the shout out, BL.
And here’s an update: The Fiskateers are less than 100 away from 3,000 members (and a quick reminder that you have to be invited into the community – you can’t just go and sign up).
Also, stores that have had a visit from a lead Fiskateer experienced 3 times the sales growth of other stores in Q1 of 2007.
_______
And I’m going to have to disagree about Crispin Porter. Those kids are VERY good at what they do – which, granted, is mostly an updated version of traditional advertising. Examples include those fantastic print ads for GT bicycles a while back; the anti-tobacco TRUTH ads; the Virgin Atlantic ads; all the MINI stuff; the IKEA spots; etc, etc.
They are (arguably) the best ad shop around